Category: 2022

Monument paying tribute to Armenian Genocide unveiled in Northern Beaches of Sydney

Garo Vardanian
Public Radio of Armenia
April 5 2022
April 5, 2022, 09:56

 

An Armenian monument dedicated to the lives of past, present and future Armenians has been unveiled in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, reports the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU).

The eight-metre high monument was unveiled on Saturday 2nd April 2022, at the Frenchs Forest Bushland Cemetery, in the presence of the Hon. Jonathan O’Dea, Speaker of the NSW Legislative Assembly and Chair of the NSW Armenia-Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group, Armenian-Australian community and religious leaders and members of the community.

The monument located in the Armenian Lawn at Frenchs Forest Bushland Cemetery was commissioned by Northern Metropolitan Cemeteries Land Manager and designed by Armenian-Australian architect, Andre Vahagn Vartan-Boghossian paying tribute to the 1.5 million Armenian lives lost during the Armenian Genocide, perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923.

Lee Sheerer, Administrator at NSW Crown Cemeteries said: “Northern Cemeteries is proud to offer Sydney’s Armenian community an eternal place of commemoration where they can gather, remember and pay respect to victims of the past.”

Boghossian explained: “The stone base of the monument represents Armenian historic culture and knowledge, as a tree rooted in the earth where the Armenians of the past rest.”

“Portrayed in the break of the stone is the Armenian Genocide of 1915, an event which defines the identity of all Armenians today and when culture was once on the brink of coming to a halt. Out of the trunk blossoms the continuation of this culture in a new form, no longer in stone but in bronze. It is a new culture, augmented by the past and flowering in Australia,” he added.

The monument plaque was officially opened by His Eminence Grace Bishop Haigazoun Najarian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australian and New Zealand and Jonathan O’Dea, Member for Davidson.

The ceremony concluded with the blessing of the newly erected Armenian monument by members of the clergy from the Armenian Apostolic Church.

ANC-AU Political Affairs Director, Michael Kolokossian thanked Northern Cemeteries and all those involved for the establishment of yet another Armenian monument memorialising the victims of the Armenian Genocide in Australia.

“Australia is now home to several Armenian Genocide monuments commemorating the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides in NSW Parliament, Ryde City Council, Fairfield City Council, Willoughby City Council and Adelaide,” Kolokossian, who was present at the unveiling, said.

Armenian-American Danny Tarkanian running for Congress

Elizabeth Jabejian
Public Radio of Armenia
April 5 2022
April 5, 2022, 13:55

 

American of Armenian heritage Danny Tarkanian – a longtime champion of Armenian American issues – is running to unseat Mark Amodei.

Douglas County Commissioner Danny Tarkanian has launched a primary election challenge to six-term Republican Mark Amodei in Northern Nevada’s lone congressional district.

Tarkanian — son of famed UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian and a frequent campaign filer — announced the move in a video recorded as he drove to Carson City to file candidacy paperwork.

“We’re going to file for congress against Mark Amodei in Congressional District 2,” he said in a roughly one-minute clip posted by his wife, Amy, on Twitter. “It’s important not just that Republicans take back control of Congress in this next election, but to have Republicans in there who will vote as a conservative with America First values.

“Mark Amodei has shown over the past 11 years that he’s anything but that,” he said.

Catholicos of All Armenian receives British lawmakers

Aram Torosian
Public Radio of Armenia
April 5 2022
April 5, 2022, 17:47

 

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received members of the UK-Armenia Friendship Group of the UK Parliament, headed by Tim Loughton. Armenian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Varuzhan Nersesyan was also present at the meeting.

Welcoming the visit of the delegation of the UK-Armenia Friendship Group to Armenia, the Catholicos of All Armenians expressed his appreciation for their support and constant attention to the protection of the rights of the people of Artsakh. His Holiness expressed his concern over the new encroachments on the right of the people of Artsakh to live in peace, the ongoing hostilities, as well as the protection of the Armenian historical and cultural heritage. The Armenian Patriarch emphasized the international community’s consistent efforts to return the captives.

The Catholicos of All Armenians noted with satisfaction the close cooperation between the UK-Armenia Friendship Group and the Armenian community of Great Britain.

Tim Loughton, in turn, attached importance to making efforts for the establishment of peace in Artsakh, ensuring the right of the Artsakh Armenians to a secure life, and expressed readiness to bring his support to the Armenian people in the British Parliament.

On the occasion of the visit, the Patriarch of All Armenians expressed his special appreciation to Baroness Caroline Cox, Member of the House of Lords, for her constant support for the protection of the free and independent life of Artsakh Armenians in various international bodies.

Opposition holds rally, outlines demands

Chalian Meline
Public Radio of Armenia
April 5 2022
April 5, 2022, 20:22

 

The opposition factions of the National Assembly convened a rally at the Freedom Square under the slogan “For the sake of Artsakh, let’s save Armenia.”

Second President Serzh Sargsyan participates in the rally, but did not make a speech.

Speaking to reporters before the start of the rally, Sargsyan said he does not believe any document will be signed during tomorrow’s meeting between Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham Aliyev in Brussels.

Addressing accusations that the previous authorities did manage to solve the issue over 30 years, he said: “It’s not easy to solve such conflicts even during 30, 40 or 50 years. We have approached that solution as much as we could. I have never negotiated about what we can hand over. I have negotiated on what we can get. And because of that, yes, we were somewhat willing to compromise.”

“Our struggle is for the future of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh. Our struggle is for every Armenian living in any corner of the world,” said MP Tigran Abrahamyan. “Artsakh will never be part of Azerbaijan,” he added.  

“This meeting is about avoiding fatal decision,” MP Aram Vardevanyan said addressing the public.

Noting that April is a month to commemorate the anniversary of the 4-day April war and the Armenian genocide, Vardevanyan said April should also become a month of “imposing real peace.”

Anna Mkrtchyan presented a final resolution-statement outlining the “basic principles of pan-Armenian agenda and the red lines.”  

She said “the independence, security and sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh are fundamental values, and there can be no retreat from those.”

The final statement says “to prepare prerequisites for the peace agenda, Azerbaijan should return all Armenian prisoners of war and other detainees, withdraw forces from both the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh.”

Furthermore, she stressed that “it’s necessary to establish that the Republic of Armenia is the guarantor of security of the people of Artsakh and the realization of its right to self-determination.”

She further stated the need to exclude any status of Artsakh within Azerbaijan, as well as an enclave status without a reliable land communication with Armenia” and to take steps to resume the negotiation process in line with the 1994 OSCE summit.

The statement also demands to exclude the signing of any interstate agreement or start any delimitation and demarcation process as long as Azerbaijan continues to use force or threat of force.

When it comes to Armenia-Turkey relations, the opposition calls to avoid any agreement that would question the fact of the Armenian Genocide and the right to be bearer of the Armenian cultural and religious heritage.

After the rally the protesters marched to France Square. They pledged to continue the protests.

Armenia’s Gabriel Sargissian shares first place with Mattias Bluebaum in European Individual Chess Championship

Arsine Chaltikian
Public Radio of Armenia
April 5 2022
April 5, 2022, 21:57

 

Armenian Grandmaster Gabriel Sargissian shares the first place in the European Individual Chess Championship after scoring victory in the 10th round.

Playing with whites, Sargissian defeated Azerbaijan’s Abdulla Gadimbayli and is now level on 8 points with Germany’s Mattias Bluebaum.

The latter defeated Maxime Lagarde of France in the 10th round.

Shant Sahakian Elected to California School Boards Association Delegate Assembly

Torgomian Varazdat
Press Contact:
Glendale School Board President Shant Sahakian
(818) 482-9858
[email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



Glendale, CA (April 5, 2022) – Glendale Unified School District Board of Education President Shant Sahakian has been elected to the Delegate Assembly of the California School Boards Association, the leading statewide education association representing the elected officials who govern public school districts and county offices of education.

As a member of the CSBA Delegate Assembly and GUSD School Board, Sahakian will be representing CSBA’s Region 23-A which serves more than 100,000 students across thirteen school districts including Alhambra, Arcadia, Burbank, Duarte, Garvey, Glendale, La Cañada, Monrovia, Pasadena, San Gabriel, San Marino, South Pasadena, and Temple City. He will be one of four regional elected representatives including fellow GUSD School Board member Jennifer Freemon as well as Kimberly Kenne of Pasadena Unified and Zahir Robb of South Pasadena Unified.

“I am very honored to be elected to serve on the Delegate Assembly of the California School Boards Association,” stated Glendale School Board President Shant Sahakian. “I look forward to working with fellow CSBA, Delegate Assembly, and School Board colleagues to represent our region at the state level and advocate for our school communities and the students we serve.”

Shant Sahakian was nominated to be a candidate on the CSBA ballot by his colleagues on the GUSD School Board. CSBA Region 23-A School Boards cast votes on behalf of their school districts through March 15, 2022. CSBA announced the election results on April 1, 2022.

The Delegate Assembly is a vital link in the California School Boards Association’s governance structure and sets the general policy direction for the association. With a membership of nearly 1,000 educational agencies statewide, CSBA brings together school governing boards and administrators from districts and county offices of education to advocate for effective policies that advance the education and well-being of the state’s more than 6 million school-age children.

Learn more about the California School Boards Association at https://www.CSBA.org.

Learn more about Glendale School Board President Shant Sahakian at https://www.ShantSahakian.com.

###

Team Shant

Shant Sahakian for Glendale School Board 2022
P.O. Box 9313, Glendale, CA 91226
(818) 570-7736
https://www.shantsahakian.com
Confidentiality Notice: This communication and any documents, files, or previous e-mail messages attached to it constitute an electronic communication within the scope of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 ISCA 2510. This communication may contain non-public, confidential, or legally privileged information intended for the sole use of the designated recipient(s). The unlawful interception, use, or disclosure of such information is strictly prohibited under 18 USCA 2511 and any applicable laws.




Shant Sahakian Elected to CSBA Delegate Assembly.jpg
JPEG image

County Supervisors Barger and Hahn Lead Efforts to Honor Armenian Culture in L.A. County

Toneyan Mark
Pasadena Now, CA
April 5 2022
STAFF REPORT
Published on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 | 2:27 pm
From Top Left counterclockwise: Al Cabraloff, Sona Van, Ronald Altoon, Mariam Kuregyan

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion authored by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Janice Hahn to honor L.A. County’s Armenian community by proclaiming the month of April Armenian History Month.

“As we prepare to commemorate the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide later this month, it’s important to also take time to recognize the vibrant culture and contributions of our fellow Armenian neighbors, community members and leaders. We are fortunate to have the Armenian spirit alive and thriving in Los Angeles County,” said Barger.

Also known among Armenians as the Great Crime, the genocide began in 1915 and, by the time it ended eight years later, 1.5 million Armenians had been hanged, poisoned, drowned or marched into the desert to die at the hands of soldiers from the Turkish Ottoman Empire. Along with the Jewish Holocaust and the enslavement of African Americans, it remains one of the darkest episodes in human history.

The Turkish government vehemently denies the event took place.

The city remembers the Genocide on April 24.

“Because Los Angeles County is home to the largest population of Armenians outside of Armenia, we have an opportunity and a duty to learn about and lift up Armenian history,” Hahn said. “This month we will celebrate the rich culture of the Armenian people, highlight the many accomplishments of Armenian-Americans in our community, and join the local residents in the somber commemoration of the lives lost in the Armenian Genocide.”

In a separate motion, Supervisor Barger named four honorees of Armenian heritage to recognize their contributions and local positive impact. Those named included a diverse range of individuals in background and achievements.

Sona Van co-founded a non-profit medical group with various locations that serve the indigent and is a literary poet of works that focus on the Armenian Genocide. Al Cabraloff is a member of the Armenian Education Foundation, an avid supporter of Armenian educational institutions and students of Armenian culture. Ronald Altoon is an internationally renowned architect and board member of several higher education institutions. Mariam Kuregyan is a lawyer and dedicated volunteer who has supported many causes, including helping women affected by domestic violence.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 04/05/2022

Hagop Kamalian 
                                        Tuesday, April 5, 2022
Pashinian, Blinken Discuss Armenian-Azeri Summit
April 05, 2022
Algeria - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a news conference 
at the U.S. Embassy in Algiers, March 30, 2022.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken 
by phone on Tuesday before flying to Brussels for potentially crucial talks with 
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.
An Armenian government statement on the phone call said they discussed, among 
other things, “processes taking place in the South Caucasus” and “increased 
tensions over Nagorno-Karabakh.”
“The parties stressed the importance of ensuring stability and peace in the 
region, emphasizing the importance of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs’ format,” 
the statement said, adding that they also touched upon the Armenian-Azerbaijani 
summit that will be hosted on Wednesday by Charles Michel, the top European 
Union official.
Aliyev and Pashinian decided last week to meet in Brussels as Azerbaijan pressed 
Armenia to accept its proposals on a “peace treaty” between the two nations. 
They scheduled the trilateral meeting with Michel a week after Azerbaijani 
troops seized a village in eastern Karabakh and tried to push deeper into the 
territory, sparking deadly fighting with Karabakh Armenian forces.
Russia called for an immediate Azerbaijani withdrawal from the “zone of 
responsibility” of 2,000 Russian peacekeepers stationed in Karabakh.
The U.S. State Department likewise deplored the Azerbaijani troop movements, 
calling them “irresponsible and unnecessarily provocative.” Baku rejected the 
criticism.
Pashinian was reported to brief Blinken on “the situation in Karabakh caused by 
the actions of Azerbaijani army units.”
The two men also discussed U.S.-Armenian relations and the conflict in Ukraine, 
according to the official Armenian readout of their phone call.
Blinken and the State Department did not immediately issue any statements on the 
conversation.
Armenian Opposition Rally Rejects ‘New Concessions’ To Azerbaijan
April 05, 2022
Armenia - Opposition supporters rally in Yerevan's Liberty Square, April 5, 2022.
Armenia’s two main opposition alliances rallied thousands of supporters in 
Yerevan on Tuesday to warn Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian against agreeing to 
restore Azerbaijan’s control over Nagorno-Karabakh.
Leaders of the Hayastan and Pativ Unem blocs said that Pashinian is ready to 
make this and other concessions to Baku. They also accused him of jeopardizing 
Armenia’s territorial integrity with his conciliatory policy towards Azerbaijan.
“These authorities have no mandate to lead the country to new concessions with 
false promises of peace,” Hayastan’s Ishkhan Saghatelian told the crowd that 
gathered in Yerevan’s Liberty Square.
Saghatelian claimed that instead of strengthening national defense and security 
they are preparing the ground for “new concessions” by scaring Armenians with 
the prospect of another war with Azerbaijan.
“None of us present here wants war, but we can’t surrender to the butcher,” said 
Aram Vartevanian, another senior Hayastan figure.
“We can’t lose again because we have nothing to lose anymore,” agreed Pativ 
Unem’s Hayk Mamijanian.
A resolution presented by the two opposition groups to the demonstrators says 
that Armenia must remain a guarantor of Nagorno-Karabakh’s security and avoid 
signing a peace treaty with Azerbaijan that would undermine the Karabakh 
Armenians’ right to self-determination. It warns that failure to do this would 
spark a popular uprising.
Armenia - Opposition leader Ishkhan Saghatelian addresses supporters during a 
rally in Yerevan's Liberty Square, April 5, 2022.
“Any government that deviates from our vital demands will be sent to hell,” 
Saghatelian declared before the protesters marched to a key street intersection 
in central Yerevan and blocked traffic through it for an hour.
The opposition warnings came on the eve of Pashinian’s talks with Azerbaijani 
President Ilham Aliyev that will be hosted by European Council President Charles 
Michel in Brussels.
The talks are expected to focus on an Armenian-Azerbaijani “peace treaty.” Baku 
wants such a deal to be based on five elements, including a mutual recognition 
of each other’s territorial integrity. Pashinian has publicly stated that they 
are acceptable to Yerevan in principle, fuelling opposition claims that he is 
ready to recognize Azerbaijani sovereignty over Karabakh.
Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and other political allies of Pashinian have 
said that Yerevan will also raise the issue of Karabakh’s status in upcoming 
negotiations with the Azerbaijani side.
Baku has ruled out any discussions on the status, with Aliyev repeatedly saying 
that the Azerbaijani victory in the 2020 war put an end to the Karabakh conflict.
Pashinian Ally Expects Tough Talks With Aliyev
April 05, 2022
        • Nane Sahakian
        • Naira Nalbandian
Belgium - European Council President Charles Michel hosts talks between Armenian 
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Brussels, 
December 14, 2021.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian will discuss “very thorny” issues with 
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev when they meet in Brussels on Wednesday, a 
senior Armenian lawmaker said on Tuesday.
European Council President Charles Michel will host the talks following deadly 
fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh that resulted from an Azerbaijani incursion into a 
local village and surrounding territory.
“Certainly the background preceding this meeting is not the best one, to put it 
mildly,” said Eduard Aghajanian, the chairman of the Armenian parliament 
committee on foreign relations and a senior member of Pashinian’s Civil Contract 
party.
“Very painful and thorny issues need to be raised at that meeting, and the 
parties will try to iron out those thorny points and move forward, which won’t 
be easy, to put it mildly,” Aghajanian added without elaborating.
Pashinian’s administration, he went on, remains committed to its “peace agenda.” 
“The Armenian side stands for the establishment of peace, and we are not going 
to abandon a diplomatic solution to the problem under any circumstances,” he 
said.
The Brussels talks are expected to focus on an Armenian-Azerbaijani “peace 
treaty” sought by Azerbaijan. Baku wants the treaty to be based on five 
elements, including a mutual recognition of each other’s territorial integrity. 
Pashinian has publicly stated that they are acceptable to Yerevan in principle.
This has been construed by Armenian opposition leaders and other critics as a 
further indication that the Armenian government is ready to recognize 
Azerbaijani sovereignty over Karabakh.
The country’s two leading opposition alliances were due to rally supporters in 
Yerevan later on Tuesday to warn Pashinian against making such concessions to 
Aliyev. Gegham Manukian, a lawmaker representing the Hayastan alliance, said 
opposition speakers at the rally will draw “the red lines” on Karabakh.
“This first all means excluding Artsakh’s being part of Azerbaijan and also 
excluding this option in further negotiations,” Manukian told RFE/RL’s Armenian 
Service.
In the words of Hayk Mamijanian of the Pativ Unem bloc, the other parliamentary 
opposition force, the rally is meant to bring together Armenians who strongly 
believe that “Artsakh (Karabakh) can never be part of Azerbaijan.”
It was also announced that former President Serzh Sarkisian will join protesters 
in Yerevan’s Liberty Square but will not deliver any speeches there. Sarkisian’s 
Republican Party makes up Pativ Unem together with another opposition party.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2022 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Asbarez: 2 Armenian Bakeries Featured in Natural History Museum’s New Exhibit

Ara Felekian
by Contributor

 

 April 5, 2022

 

in Community, Latest, News, Top Stories

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County’s “Kneaded: L.A. Bread Stories” poster

New Initiative Celebrates L.A’s Diverse History, Heritage, and Communities through Delicious Cultural Objects—Bread

LOS ANGELES—The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County launched an innovative new initiative “Kneaded: L.A. Bread Stories,” a digital-first multimedia series that highlights L.A.’s history of breadmaking and celebrates a selection of the diverse, trailblazing, and resilient bakers and community builders who call the city home.

Throughout the year, “Kneaded L.A.” will premiere videos, stories, and photo essays with these bakers, sharing how their delicious breads facilitate important cultural heritages and traditions. As a part of its mission, NHM celebrates and illuminates L.A.’s diverse rich natural and cultural history.

Lori Bettison-Varga, NHMLAC President and Director said, “This new initiative honors the diversity of our city and gets to the heart of what makes L.A. so special. We are so excited to work together with bakers across the County to launch “Kneaded: L.A. Bread Stories” and showcase the multilayered stories that celebrate the rich heritage of L.A.”

“Kneaded L.A.” serves as a unifying theme to celebrate the range of experiences, traditions and identities in L.A., rather than a competition to uncover the best of the city. The storefronts of featured bread makers are found in a variety of locations, from mini-malls to pop-up restaurants, food trucks, and corner bakeries. For many of them, not only does bread nourish communities, but also brings people together to build communities. Throughout the initiative, audiences will be encouraged to learn about the history and culture of each type of bread and bakery in order to deepen their relationship and appreciation of Los Angeles.

LA County Board of Supervisors Chair Holly J. Mitchell said, “’Kneaded L.A.’ spotlights the diverse communities that make our city such a vibrant and interesting place to live. Learning more about the bakers and traditions behind each piece of delicious bread makes every bite more enjoyable and deepens our connections to the small businesses and people in our neighborhoods. I want to thank the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County for continuing to provide educational and impactful programs like this for the residents of the Second District and throughout L.A. County.”

This month spotlights Marlene Beckford’s Jamaican Fry Dumplings from Leimert Park’s Ackee Bamboo Jamaican Cuisine. Highlights from following months include: Frogtown’s Just What I Kneaded in March; Glendale’s Zhengyalov Hatz in April; Santa Monica’s DK Donuts & Bakery in May; Downtown LA’s Nickel Diner in June; The Original Hawowshi pop-up in July; an exploration of L.A’s bread history in August; Guatemalteca Bakery in September; Long Beach’s San & Wolves Bake Shop in October; and Lucy Hale’s Indian Tacos & Frybread pop-up in November.

The full list of participants include*:

  • 786 Degrees
  • Ackee Bamboo Jamaican Cuisine
  • African Chop Truck
  • Al-Noor
  • Anarkali Indian Restaurant
  • Apron Strings Community Bake Shop
  • Big Boi
  • Cake and Art
  • Chia Cafe Collective
  • DK’s Donuts & Bakery
  • Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen
  • Guatemalteca Bakery
  • Huckleberry Cafe
  • Just What I Kneaded
  • Kien Giang Bakery
  • La Monarca Bakery & Cafe
  • La Princesita Tortilleria
  • Liberation Coffee House
  • Lucy Hale’s Indian Tacos & Frybread
  • Nickel Diner
  • Paratta
  • Porto’s Bakery and Cafe
  • Roji Bakery
  • Rose + Rye
  • San & Wolves Bakeshop
  • Sasoun Bakery
  • The Original Hawowshi Zhengyalov Hatz

Visit the website to explore the appetizing nooks and cultural crannies of L.A. bread.

*Additional bakeries to be added as confirmed.

The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County (NHMLAC) include the Natural History Museum in Exposition Park, La Brea Tar Pits in Hancock Park, and the William S. Hart Museum in Newhall. They operate under the collective vision to inspire wonder, discovery, and responsibility for our natural and cultural worlds. The museums hold one of the world’s most extensive and valuable collections of natural and cultural history—more than 35 million objects. Using these collections for groundbreaking scientific and historical research, the museums also incorporate them into on- and offsite nature and culture exploration in L.A. neighborhoods, and a slate of community science programs—creating indoor-outdoor visitor experiences that explore the past, present, and future. Visit the NHM website for adventure, education, and entertainment opportunities.

The L.A. bread story is not complete without you! Share your story and follow the carbohydrate fueled stories that let culture bloom—tag the Museum, @NHMLA, with #KneadedLA.

Ardashes ‘Ardy’ Kassakhian Selected as Glendale Mayor

Hovhannisian John
 by Contributor

 

 April 5, 2022

 

in Community, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories
 0
Ardashes “Ardy” Kassakhian at City Council on April 5

GLENDALE—Glendale City Council Member Ardashes “Ardy” Kassakhian was selected as the City’s Mayor by fellow councilmembers on Tuesday. Kassakhian takes over the position from outgoing Mayor Paula Devine. This is Kassakhian’s first time serving in the role of Mayor.
 
Born in Boston, Mayor Ardy Kassakhian has been a resident of Glendale since 1986. Prior to his election to City Council, Mr. Kassakhian served as the elected City Clerk for Glendale for 15 years, having been elected and re-elected four times by Glendale’s voters.
 
Mayor Kasskahian is the product of Glendale schools, having attended John Marshall and R.D. White Elementary schools, Wilson Middle School, and Glendale High School (’94). Mayor Kassakhian graduated from the University of California Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts in History. He received his Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University. More recently, he attended the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and completed the Certificate Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government. He is also an alumnus of the Coro Public Affairs Fellowship.

The California Senate Rules Committee appointed Mayor Kassakhian to serve on the California New Motor Vehicle Board and to the Language Accessibility Advisory Committee by Secretary of State Alex Padilla.
Mayor Kassakhian currently serves as the Chair of the Glendale Housing Authority and was appointed to serve as Glendale’s representative on the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Board of Directors and the California Contract Cities Association.
 
“I have dedicated the majority of my career to serving the residents of the City of Glendale,” said Mayor Kassakhian. “From my beginnings as the City’s Clerk, through my time as a Councilmember, and now as Mayor, I will continue to serve this great community and ensure its future. I am honored for this opportunity and thank my colleagues for enlisting their trust in me in this coming year.”
 
Councilmember Kassakhian and his wife, Courtney, live in the Pelanconi neighborhood of Glendale with their son.